Apparatus for decomposing alkali-chlorid solutions.



K. HEINEMANN.

- APPARATUS EOR DECOMPOSING ALKALI CHLORID SOLUTIONS. APPLICATION man MAR. 21. 914.

1,176,551 Patented Mar. 21,1916.

Eu/ 7 m MA IAA/q Fig.2. Fig.3

UNITED STATES 'PATEN T OFFICE.

IKARL HEINEMANN, OF PIBNA, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR DECOMPOSING ALKALI-CHLORID SOLUTIONS.

Application filed March 27, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, KARL HEIXIHE'ANN, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Pirna, in the Kingdom of Saxony. Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Decomposing Alkali-Chlorid Solutions, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of alkaiis and chlorin by electrolytic decomposition of chlorid solutions by means of mercury cathodes partly vertical or considerably inclined, or partly horizontal or nearly horizontal bottoms or bases have been employed for the layer of the mercury. In the first case the mercury is liable to break oil from the bottom and t flow in narrow strips and this inconvenience can not be prevented but by arranging capillary recesses in the bottom plate. The scc ond arrangement entailed the inconvenience that the amalgam which is lighter than mercury and therefore is floating above, is liable to rest in. the form of a rigid layer, while the fresh mercury flows thereunder. I t has been repeatedly attempted to dispose the apparatus in such a manner that preferably the amalgam or only the amalgam is floating. or stirring devices were arranged to continuously dip in the amalgam, but one has not succeeded in this manner in obtaining an output approximating the theoretical effect of the current.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical longitudinal section through an electrolyzer constructed according to the present invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views of modifications of the bottom plate on an enlarged scale.

The electrolwzer consists as shown substantially of a. lower part or frame a and an upper part 5; between both parts the bottom plate 6 is squeezed by means of a flange 0 and bolts (Z. The part- 7) is inwardly lined with an insulating layer The bottom plate e is a little inclined from the left to the right hand, so that the mercury entering by the pipe 9 slowly flows to the other end of the electrolyzer over the bottom plate 6 and is discharged through the pipe t. anode which would be suspended above the bottom plate 6 in a salt solution is not shown and likewise the cover locking the top of the electroiyzer and containing the electric terminal for the anode and the pipe conducting awav the chlorin.

Specification of Letters Patent.

The

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 827,732.

The bottom plate e is provided with projections (not shown in Fig. 1) which are shown. on an enlarged scale in Figs. 2 and 3.

According to the present invention :a plain bottom plate is employed even w n arly horizontal surfaces of the catlu but a bottom plate is used on which the me cury current constantly meets projections of small height extending preferably over the whole bottom plate at a right angle to the direction of the mercury current. They may have the form of ribs the height of which amounts to about 0.5 and the interval between which amounts to l to 1.5 millimeters. They may also consist of rows of conveXities or bosses or lentiform or oblong projections which are preferably disposed in such a manner that the projections or the like of one row correspond to interstices of the next row and so on. The effect of these impediments consists in that the mercury is dammed or banked up before them, whereby a most effective and intimate mixture of the amalgam and the mercury is produced and an output nearly approximating the theoretical amount is obtained. The damming effect may be increased by making the slope of the impediments on the side directed against the mercury current more inclined than on the opposite side (see Fig. 2), or by making them hang over on the side directed against the mercury current (see Fig. 3). The submersion of the impediments is a complete one although it is not supported by any capillary forces.

I claim 1. In a cell for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode. a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with im pediments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current.

In a cell for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with imprdiments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current. said in'ipedimcnts being more inclined on the side directed against the mercury current than on the other side.

3%. In a cell for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with im pediments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current, said impediments hanging over on the side directed against the mercury current.

4. In a cell for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bot tom plate provided on its surface with impediments more inclined on the side directed against the mercury current than on the other side.

5. In a cell for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate ])I'O"i(l8(l on its surface with impediments hanging over on the side directed against the mercury current.

6. In apparatus for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with impediments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current, the interstices between the said impediments being of more than capillary width.

7. In apparatus for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with impediments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current, said impediments being more inclined on the side directed against the mercury current than on the other side, the in- 7 terstices between the said impediments being of more than capillary width.

8. In apparatus for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with impediments arranged in rows forming a right angle with the direction of the mercury current, said impediments having over on the side directed against the mercury current the interstices between the said impediments being of more than capillary width.

9. In apparatus for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of flowing mercury cathode, a nearly hon? ital stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with impediments more inclined on the side directed against the mercury current than on the other side the interstices between the said impediments being of more Width.

.10. In apparatus for decomposing alkali chlorid solutions by means of a flowing mercury cathode, a nearly horizontal stationary bottom plate provided on its surface with impediments having over on the side directed against the mercury current, the interstices between the said impediments being of more than capillary width.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KARL HEINEMAN N.

\Vitnesses I i LEO BERGHOLZ, PAUL AanAs.

than capillary 

